Lesson 3 · October 18, 1890

Gideon's Victory

1.Relate briefly the circumstances of Gideon's call to deliver Israel.
2.How did he assemble the people to fight against Midian? .
3.When the Israelites had gathered for battle, what did the Lord say to Gideon? .
4.Why did the Lord not want so many people to go to the battle? .
5.What proclamation was Gideon directed to make? .
6.Why were the fearful ones directed to return? .
7.What important lesson may we learn from this?—That although it was God that fought their battles, he could do nothing with faint-hearted, discouraged men. See .
8.When Gideon made the required proclamation, how many people returned, and how many remained? .
9.What did the Lord say of those that remained? .
10.What further division of the army was Gideon directed to make? .
11.How many men were retained to fight against Midian? .
12.What did God design by this to impress upon the minds of the people? .
13.How was Gideon assured that the enemy was already virtually defeated? .
14.What preparation did he then make for battle? .
15.What order did he give to his little army? .
16.Describe the result. .
17.By what was this victory gained? .
18.For what purpose was this victory recorded? .
19.May we have the same confidence that Gideon had? .
20.By what are we to gain victories? , last part.
21.What is the strength which faith gives us, that we may overcome? .

Notes

Faith is superior to reason, but not contrary to it. The most reasonable thing in the world is that man should have faith. The case of Gideon's victory shows how much more reasonable faith is than reason itself. Reason would have taken that thirty-two thousand men and massed them in one solid phalanx and hurled them on the foe. But only men of desperate courage could win in that way against fearful odds, and a large part of Gideon's army were cowards. Even if the ten thousand who were not cowards, or who were ashamed to acknowledge themselves to be such, had been able to conquer the Midianites, it would have been at a great sacrifice of human life. But now see how it worked with God's plan. When, in obedience to Gideon's directions, his men broke the vessels that concealed their torches, there stood each man sharply outlined against the darkness, apparently the leader of a division; so that to the Midianites it would seem that they were being attacked by three hundred ⟦bands?⟧ of ⟦armed?⟧ warriors. A panic seized them, and the victory was won without Israel's losing a man. It is easy to see the reasonableness of faith when the event is past. Then it is sight. We are permitted to see these things in order that we may learn to exercise faith when the prospect offers no hope to human eyes.

Bible texts in this lesson

Judges 6:34 · Judges 6:35 · Judges 7:1 · Judges 7:2 · Judges 7:3 · Deuteronomy 20:2 · Deuteronomy 20:3 · Deuteronomy 20:8 · Joshua 1:5-7 · Joshua 1:9 · Judges 7:4 · Judges 7:5 · Judges 7:6-8 · 2 Chronicles 14:11 · Judges 7:9-15 · Judges 7:16 · Judges 7:17 · Judges 7:18 · Judges 7:19-23 · Hebrews 11:32-34 · Romans 15:4 · Psalms 27:1-3 · Psalms 3:6 · 1 John 5:4 · Ephesians 6:10

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